News

Watch Drew Doughty flip David Perron with beautiful hip check

Ducks winger David Perron has already learned about Anaheim’s rivalry with the Kings, but he finally saw how physical the games can be when he was flipped upside down by a textbook hip check from Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty.

David Perron has been able to get acquainted with the Los Angeles Kings-Anaheim Ducks rivalry during his short time in California, and it hasn't been that tough on the Anaheim winger. Since joining Ducks, Perron has found the score sheet in each contest against the rival Kings, but he made the highlight reel Sunday for another reason when he was flipped upside down by Los Angeles blueliner Drew Doughty.

Less than eight minutes into the first frame, Perron was cutting into the Kings’ zone on an Anaheim power play when he ended up one-on-one with Doughty. Perron made a quick move to the outside and appeared to have made his way past the Kings defender when Doughty dug in with his left skate, pivoted his body and caught Perron with a picture-perfect hip check:

That’s a textbook hit by one of the league’s best blueliners and one Perron will likely remember next time he tries to go in alone against Doughty. Perron would eventually get his revenge, however, and in the same fashion he had in his past two outings against the Kings. In the third frame, with the Ducks looking for an insurance marker, Perron was able to scoop up a loose puck and bury a shot past Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick.

As for Doughty, though, the hit is just one of many highlights for the 26-year-old this season. He has found himself in the Norris Trophy discussion this campaign and for good reason. Through 62 games, Doughty has averaged nearly 28:30 of ice time per game, has scored 11 goals and 40 points and has added nine special teams goals, including eight on the power play.

If he finishes in the top three of voting, it will be the second time in the past two seasons he has been one of the finalists for the award and the third time in his career. Doughty has never won the award and finished a close second to Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson in 2014-15. Karlsson is again Doughty’s most likely competition for the end of year hardware this season.